Plastic container with integral handle



30, 1968 A. B. MOJONNIER ETAL 3,356,290

PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH INTEGRAL HANDLE Filed Sept. 8, 1966 United States Patent 3,366,290 PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH INTEGRAL HANDLE Albert B. Mojonnier, Chicago, IlL, and Harry E. Lowe III, Martinsville, N.J., assignors to Mojonnier, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,937 14 Claims. (Cl. 222-572) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plastic container with integral hollow handle of L-shaped configuration in which the hollow handle is sealed from the container by flat web sections and in which the flat web sections join the ends of the handle to the container in areas inwardly of a corner of the container to provide a laterally stable connection between the handle and container.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and particularly to a plastic container with integral handle.

An important object of this invention is to provide a plastic container with an integral hollow handle in which the handle is sealed from the container and is connected thereto in a manner to provide a laterally stable support between the handle and the container whereby to inhibit swinging of the container relative to the handle during carrying or dispensing of liquid from the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic container of a type formed by two cup-like halves having mating outturned flanges joined together along a medial flange scam, in which a rigid, generally L-shaped handle is formed integrally with the outturned flanges adjacent one corner of the container and is connected to the cont-ainer by the flanges in a manner to provide a laterally stable support between the handle and the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic container with integral handle in which the handle is shaped to provide a hand-grip portion along the upper rear side of the container for use in dispensing of liquids from the container and to also provide a finger-grip portion on the top of the container to facilitate lifting of the container from the top thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a plastic container with an integral handle and spout so arranged as to provide a generally rectangular overall configuration for compact storage and stacking of the containers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a plastic container with integral handle which is economical to make, which provides a comfortable hand-grip for use in carrying the container and dispensing liquid therefrom, and which is rugged and durable in use.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a container embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 44 of FIG. 2 and showing the parts on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 5- 5 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the parts on an enlarged scale.

' The container of the present invention comprises two opposed halves designated 21 and 21 which are generally 3,366,290 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 ice symmetrical with respect to a medial plane. The container may be formed of various different plastic materials and preferably thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene, poly-styrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc. The halves or sections of the container may be molded or shaped in any suitable manner but are preferably formed of sheet thermoplastic material in a fluid pressure forming process wherein fluid pressure is used to press the sheet of heat softened thermoplastic material into conformity with the shape of a mold. Either vacuum or air at greater than atmospheric pressure may be used to press the sheet into engagement with the mold, and the mold may be of either the male or female type. In practice, it has been found preferable to use a so-called plug assist method in which the thermoplastic sheet is heated; placed over a female mold; a plug pushed against the sheet to draw the material from the sides into the bottom of the mold; and a vacuum thereafter applied to draw the sheet away from the plug and into conformity with the mold. This method enables control over the amount of thinning of the sheet at the bottom of the mold and, by proper'design of the plug, the sheet can be drawn to control the distribution of the material in the diiferent walls of the half sections.

The container half-sections 21, 21' respectively include face panels 22, 22' which form opposite sides of the .container, bottom panels 23, 23; front panels 24, 2A; lower and upper rear panels 26a, 25a and 25b, 25b; and top panels 26, 26' which extend transverse to the respective side panel to form a cup-shaped shell or cavity. The front panels, bottom panels, low and upper rear panels and top panels respectively terminate in outturned flange portions designated 30a-30e respectively, and the flanges on the opposed half-sections 21 and 21 are joined together as by heat sealing, adhesive or the like to form a liquid receiving container. As best shown in FIG. 1, the bottom panels 23, 23' are advantageously inclined downwardly in a direction outwardly of their lower flange portions 3012 so that the outer edges of the bottom wall are disposed at a level adjacent the underside of the lower flange portions 3% to provide a stable support for the container when it is positioned upright on a horizontal support surface. The top panels 26, 26 are also preferably incline-d downwardly and outwardly in a direction away from their upper flange portions 30:2, at an angle preferably greater than the inclination of the lower panels 23, 23, to facilitate removal of the half-sections from the mold during forming of the same. In addition, the front panels 24, 24' are preferably inclined rearwardly from their forward flange portions 30a and the rear panels 25a, 25a and 25b, 25b are inclined forwardly from their respective rear flange portions 30c and 30d.

Handle half-sections designated 31 and 31' are formed integrally with the flanges on the respective container half-sections 21 and 21', adjacent the upper rear corners of the container half-sections. The handle half-sections have a generally L-shaped configuration and include upper legs 31a, 31a which extend forwardly along the top panels 26, 26 of the respective container half-section and rear legs 31b, 31b which extend downwardly along the upper rear panels 25b, 25b of the respective container half-sections. The L-shaped handle is made laterally rigid and, preferably, each of the handle half-sections comprises an L-shaped depression formed in the flange portions 30d and 30s of the container half-sections in a region spaced outwardly from the respective container half-section. The legs 31a, 31a and 31b, 31b of the handle half-sections thus have a generally U-shaped crosssection as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and, when disposed in opposing relation, form a hollow handle structure which is itself laterally rigid. As previously described, the container flanges including the flange portions 30a and 30e are sealed together to form the container so that the hollow handle is sealed from communication with the container and is connected thereto only by flat web or flange portions 30d and 30e. The L-shaped handle is disposed adjacent the upper rear corner of the container and, in order to inhibit swinging or flexing of the container relative to the handle during carrying or dispensing of liquid from the container, the legs of the handle are arranged to project beyond the upper rear corner a distance such that a straight line designated L in FIG. 2 extending between the outer ends of the upper and rear legs of the L-shaped handle, passes through the container inwardly of the upper rear corner of the same. Thus, although the flat flange portions 30d and 302 are themselves somewhat flexible, swinging of the container relative to the handle is effectively precluded by the extension of the upper and rear legs of the handle beyond the upper rear corner of the container. Stated otherwise, the L-shaped handle is arranged relative to the corner of the container such that there is no straight line that can be passed through the flange portions 30d and 30e in the region between the container and handle, and along which flexing could occur between the container and handle.

An enlarged finger receiving opening 33 is formed between the rear legs 31b, 31b of the handle half-sections and the upper rear panels b, 25b of the container halfsections. The rear edge 33a of the opening preferably extends closely adjacent the inner side of the rear legs 31b, 31b of the handle to provide a more comfortable hand grip while the forward edge 33b of the opening 33 is spaced outwardly of the upper rear panels 25b, 25b such that a flange portion remains along the upper rear panel of the container half-sections for sealing of the container. The opening 33 is preferably made sufliciently large to receive all four fingers of a users hand and, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear legs 31b, 31b of the handle half-sections extend generally vertically while the upper rear panels 25b, 251) are inclined upwardly and forwardly so that the opening 33 is somewhat larger adjacent the top. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the flange portion 300. on the container adjacent the forward side of the finger receiving opening is preferably bent laterally a indicated at f, either during heat seal joining of the flanges or thereafter, to avoid a sharp flange edge which might cause some discomfort to the users hand.

The handle forming depressions are preferably enlarged in the region adjacent the upper rear corner of the container so that the upper leg 31a, 31a thereof each has a portion or projection 310 which extends downwardly from the upper legs at a point rearwardly of the upper rear panels 25b, 25b. The upper edge 330 of the opening 33 may conveniently be rounded as shown in FIG. 2 to provide a more comfortable grip. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 302 joins the upper legs 31a, 31a of the handle sections to their respective container halfsection, and these flange portions preferably extend from a point adjacent the outer end of the upper handle leg to a point rearwardly of the upper rear corner of the container. The upper legs 31a, 31a of the handle half-sections are preferably spaced above the respective top panels a distance sufficient to provide a finger-tip receiving cavity therebetween and the upper leg extends to a point adjacent the front-to-rear center of the container to enable the container to be lifted from the top. The lower ends of the rear legs 31b, 31b of the handle half-sections are joined to their respective container half-sections by the rearward extensions 30g of the flange portions 30d. The rear and upper legs of the handle half-sections are also preferably formed with outwardly extending flanges 31d and 3112 respectively at their outer sides, and these handle flanges are also preferably joined together as by heat sealing to further rigidify the handle structure.

The container is preferably formed with a dispensing spout in the top thereof and, advantageously, the spout is formed in opposed half-sections 35, 35' on the top walls of the respective container half-sections 21, 21'. The spout half-section have outturned flanges 35a, 35a for receiving a cover (not shown). The top of the spout is preferably disposed at a level adjacent the top of the handle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to facilitate stacking of containers, if desired.

The container half-sections 21 and 21' after preforming, can be stacked in nested stacks of like half-sections to provide more compact storage and transportation of the same from the place of forming of the half-sections to the place of assembly and joining of the same. The container spout half-sections 35, 35' with the outturned flanges 35a, 35a and the hollow handle half-sections 31, 3]. limit nesting of like half-sections during stacking of the same in the region adjacent thetop wall of the container half-sections. In order to provide more uniform nesting of like half-sections in a stack, stacking projections are preferably provided on the container half-sections adjacent the bottom wall of the container. As shown, the face panels 22, 22' of the container half-sections are formed with recessed portions 22a, 22a along the juncture of the face panels with the respective bottom wall 23, 23' and stacking projections 22!), 22c, and 22b, 22c are formed on the recessed portions. The stacking projections preferably have their outer faces generally flush with the respective face panel and the sides of the stacking projections extend generally perpendicular to the outer faces thereof or even with a slight reverse taper as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, so that the outer faces of the stacking projections on one container half-section will engage the inner side of the recessed portion on the next adjacent nested container half-section to positively control nesting of like container half-sections adjacent the bottom walls thereof.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the container and handle half-sections can be readily formed from sheet thermoplastic material using known sheet-forming techniques, and the container and handle half-sections then joined together as by heat sealing along the mating outturned flanges. The finger receiving opening 33 can be formed in the half-sections either prior to the assembly of the same or after the half-sections have joined together to form the container. The opposed L-shaped handle forming depressions form a generally hollow handle of L-shaped configurations when the half-sections are joined together and, since the container flanges are joined together along a line extending between the handle and the container, the hollow handle is sealed from the container. Although the flat mating flanges which join the handle to the container are themselves somewhat flexible, the handle legs extend along the top and rear panels of the container a distance suflicient to effectively preclude swinging or flexing of the container relative to the handle. In addition, the upper leg of the handle is spaced above the top wall of the container a distance suflicient to provide a finger-tip receiving cavity therebetween, and this leg extends forwardly to a point at least adjacent the frontto-rear center of the container so as to facilitate lifting of the container by the top leg of the handle. In order to enhance the clearance between the upper leg of the container and the top wall of the container, the top panels 26, 26 are preferably formed with dished areas 26a, 26a in the region adjacent the upper leg of the handle. With this container and handle construction, a rugged and durable container can be formed from relatively light weight sheet stock. For example, containers of one gallon capacity have been formed from thermoplastic sheet material such as high density polyethylene having a sheet thickness (before thermoforming) of about .030. The overall weight of the plastic in the gallon containers formed of such .030" sheet stock was in the range 65-75 grams. It is presently considered preferable, however, to use somewhat heavier sheet stock such as .040" polyethylene to improve the overall strength and ability of the container to resist impact and to provide a somewhat thicker flange to facilitate heat seal joining of the container half-sections. Theoverall weight of the gallon containers formed from .040" polyethylene is about 85 to 90 grams, and the amount of plastic required for forming such containers is thus sufficiently low to enable their production as single use disposable containers.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A plastic container with integral handle comprising opposed container halves generally symmetrical with respect to a medial plane',fsaid container having a top wall and a rear wall joined together at the upper rear corner of the container, a: generally L-shaped handle at said upper rear corner of' the container, said handle being of hollow cross-section and having a first hollow leg joined to the top wall of the container by a first flat web section disposed in said medialplane and a second hollow leg joined to said rear Wallof said container by a second flat web section disposed'ggin' said medial plane, said flat web sections sealing said hollow legs of said handle from communication with-said container and said first and second hollow legs extending from a point outwardly of said upper rear corner respectively along said top and rear walls of the container a substantial distance such that a straight line {extending from one end of the L- shaped handle to thefother end thereof passes through said container inwardlyof said upper rear corner, at least one of said fiat web sections having portions joining the respective leg to the container at areas disposed both inwardly and outwardly of said line to inhibit flexing of the handle relative to the container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first web section extends from the end of said first leg to a point adjacent said one corner of the container.

3. A container according to claim 1 including a dispensing spout extending upwardly from said top wall forwardly of said first legof said handle.

4. A container according to claim 3 wherein the upper edge of said spout is disposed adjacent the level of the upper edge of said one leg of said handle.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein said first leg of said hollow handle is spaced above said top wall a distance sufiicient to provide a finger-tip receiving cavity therebetween.

6. A plastic container with integral handle comprising first and second opposed cup-shaped container halves having mating outturned flanges joined together along a medial flange seam, said container halves each including a top wall and a rear wall joined together at an upper rear corner of the container, a generally L-shaped handle at said upper rear corner of the container, said handle comprising first and second handle halves respectively formed integrally with the flanges on said first and second container halves, said first and second handle halves having top and rear legs of U-shaped cross-section disposed in opposed relation to form a hollow L-shaped handle, said top and rear legs extending from a point outwardly of said upper rear corner respectively along said top and rear sides of the container a distance such that a straight line extending from one end of the hollow L-shaped handle to the other end thereof passes through said container inwardly of said upper rear corner, said top and rear legs of said handle halves being spaced outwardly from the cup-shaped container halves at all points therealong and being joined adjacent the ends of the top and rear legs to the respective container half by top and rear sections of the flanges, said flanges on the container halves including said top and rear sections being sealed together along a zone extending between the cup-shaped container halves and the handle halves to isolate the hollow L-shaped handle from the container, said top sections of said flanges joining the top legs of the handle halves to the respective top wall at areas disposed both inwardly and outwardly of said line to inhibit flexing of the handle relative to the container and said flanges having an enlarged finger receiving opening between said sealed zone and one of the legs ofthe handle. 7

7. 'A' container according to claim 6 wherein said finger receiving opening is located adjacent the rear wall of the container.

8. A'container according to claim 7 wherein said container flange is bent laterally of said medial flange seam in the region adjacent said opening. i

9. Ailcontainer according to claim 7 wherein said top leg of said handle is spaced above said top wall of the container a distance sufficient to provide a finger-tip receiving cavity therebetween.

10. container according to claim 6 wherein said handle halves have mating handle flanges along the outer side of the handle, said handle flanges being joined together.

11. A container according to claim 6 including a dispensing spout extending upwardly from saidtop wall forwardly of said first leg of said handle, saidf spout including first and second opposed spout half-sections respectively formed integrally with said first and second container half-sections.

12. A plastic container with integral handle comprising first and second opposed cup-shaped container halves having mating outturned flanges joined together along a medialj'flange seam, said container halves each including a face panel and a bottom wall, a generally upright front wall, a top wall and a rear wall extending transverse to the respective face panel and joined to the respective flange, said rear walls each including a generally upright lower rear panel and an upper rear panel extending upwardly and forwardly from the lower rear panel to the top wall and defining an upper rear corner with the top wall, a hollow generally L-shaped handle at the upper rear corner of the container, said handle comprising first and second handle halves respectively formed integrall with the flanges on said first and second container halves, said first and second handle halves each having a generally L-shaped handle depression formed therein with a first leg of the depression extending along said upper rear panel and spaced rearwardly therefrom and a second leg extending along said top wall and spaced upwardly therefrom, said first and. second legs of said L-shaped handle depression in each handle half extending along the rear panel and top wall of the associated container half a distance such that a straight line extending between the outer ends of said legs of the depression passes through the container half inwardly of said upper rear corner, the upper leg of the L-shaped depression in each handle half being joined by an upper section of the flange on the associated container half to the top wall of that container half in an area extending from adjacent the forward end of the depression to the upper rear corner of that container half, the rear leg of the L-shaped depression in eachhandle half being joined by a rear section of the flange on the associated container half to the rear wall of that container half adjacent the lower end of the L-shaped depression, said container flanges including said upper and rear sections of the flanges being sealed together in a zone extending along said upper rear panel and said top wall between the L-shaped depressions in the handle halves and the respective container halves to isolate the hollow handle from the container, said flanges having an enlarged finger receiving opening between said rear wall and said second leg of said handle.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein said second leg of said L-shaped depression extends generally vertically and is spaced relatively farther from the rear panel adjacent the top thereof, said L-shaped depression having a portion thereof projecting downwardly from the first leg of the depression in an area spaced forwardly from the second leg of the depression and rearwardly from said upper rear panel, said flanges having portions extending between the first leg of the depression and the top wall of the container in the region between said projection and the forward end of said first leg.

' 14-. A container according to claim 12 including a dispensing spout extending upwardly from said top wall forwardly of said first leg of said handle, said spout includ-' 8 control nesting of like half-sections adjacent the' bottom wall thereof prior to joining of mating half-sections.

I ,'References Cited 1 V UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,146,912 9/19 64 Twersky "22L2 '107 3,225,959 12/1965, Josephsen et al.. 215-1.S

y F EIGN PATENTS 940,988 11/1963 Great Britain.-

STANLEY;H. TOL LBERG, Primary Exal njuer. 

